Green Economy in the context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication: paragraph 184 10

Institutional framework for sustainable development: paragraph 266 11

Other issues to be considered by Rio+20: paragraph 413 12

Sustainable Development Goals: paragraph 436 13

14

INTRODUCTION 15

16

The participants of the 64th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference, assembled from 3-5 September 2011 in Bonn, 17 Germany, seat of UN organizations and conventions working for sustainable development worldwide and home 18 to an interdisciplinary cluster of NGOs and institutions working in the fields of volunteerism, environment and 19 development; 20

Noting that the 64th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference is a major stakeholder event aimed at contributing to the 21 two volunteer-focused sessions of the UN General Assembly scheduled to take place on 5 December 2011 in 22 New York to mark the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (―IYV + 10‖); 23

Further noting that the 64th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference also aims to inform the preparatory process 24 towards the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (―Rio + 20‖) in Rio de Janeiro, 4-6 June 2012; 25

Bearing in mind the objective of the Earth Summit (―Rio + 20‖), as mandated in the UN General Assembly 26 Resolution A/64/236, to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing the 27 progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on 28 sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges that include the themes of green economy 29 in the context of poverty eradication and sustainable development and the institutional framework for sustainable 30 development; 31

Mindful of the failure of States to subsequently address the urgency conveyed in the opening paragraph of 32 Agenda 21: ―Humanity stands at a defining moment in history. We are confronted with perpetuation of 33 disparities between nations, and a worsening of poverty, hunger, ill health and illiteracy and the continuing 34 deterioration of the ecosystem on which we depend for our well being‖; (Agenda 21, UNCED, 1992) 35

Noting the need to reaffirm and renew Agenda 21, which, in section 3.7, stresses that ―sustainable development 36 must be achieved at every level of society ?. Governments, in cooperation with appropriate international and 37 non-governmental organizations, should support a community-driven approach to sustainability‖; 38

Recognizing that the strength of sustainable development is its inherent nature to interlink problems and solutions 39 across a wide spectrum of ―issue silos‖; 40

Guided by the outcome documents of the major global summits of the 1980s and the 1990s, Agenda 21 and the 41 Rio Declaration, the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development?s Johannesburg Plan of Implementation 42 (―JPOI‖), and the Cochabamba Peoples? Agreement; 43

Recalling that the Earth Charter, together with the Culture of Peace, can play a vital role in helping to inspire 44 renewed political commitment expected for Rio + 20 and to guide the transition to a sustainable, just and 45 peaceful society with respect and care for the entire community of life; 46

Recalling the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, in particular Principle 10, on the need to 47 ensure participation of all concerned citizens in environmental decision-making as well as access to 48 environmental information and environmental justice and Principles 20-22 on the need to promote participation 49 of women, youth, and indigenous peoples; 50

Reaffirming the importance of attaining the goals set in the International Conference on Population and 51 Development (―ICPD‖), the Fourth World Conference on Women, and the UN Millennium Development Goals 52 (―MDGs‖); 53

Further guided by General Assembly Resolution 63/153 of 18 December 2008 inviting Governments and other 54 stakeholders to carry out activities focused on marking the IYV + 10; 55

Bearing in mind that the General Assembly, in op. para. 16 of A/RES/63/153, ―requests the UN Secretary-56 General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session on the implementation of the tenth 57 anniversary of the International Year under the item entitled ―Social development‖, and to be pursued by the 58 United Nations Volunteer program, its partners and the other relevant parts of the United Nations system; 59

Aware of the need for a follow-up to the 2011 IYV+10 and noting that the momentum created has contributed to 60 increase the vibrancy of volunteerism nationally, regionally and globally with the involvement of more 61 governments, more civil society organizations, more private sector partners, and more people from a broader 62 cross-section of societies; 63

GENERAL STATEMENTS 64

Recognizing that human beings are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature; 65

Alarmed at the increasing loss of biodiversity; the rate of desertification, deforestation, especially in the tropics 66 and forest degradation globally; the collapse of fishery resources, and the aggravated effects resulting from 67 global warming; 68

Recognizing that biodiversity and linguistic diversity are inseparable and alarmed at the loss of traditional 69 knowledge caused by the loss of linguistic diversity; 70

Concerned about climate change and its effects, including exacerbating biodiversity loss as well as ocean 71 acidification and the collapse of glaciers, ice caps and polar ice shelves; 72

Recognizing that billions of people remain in poverty and that poverty often has a female face; 73

Recognizing as well the lack of consistent and sustainable sources of energy for both the developed and the 74 developing world, unsustainable agriculture, and rises in food prices; 75

Taking note of the inter-relationships among the environmental challenges, climate change, food crisis and 76 monetary and financial instability, aggravated by the unprecedented concentration of resources and flagrant 77 inequities among people; 78

Noting that solutions based on de-regulated markets have accentuated the problems and have brought adverse 79 consequences to humanity; and that commitments on financing for development have not been fulfilled; 80

Also recognizing that the current monetary, financial, commercial and economic system, along with unequal 81 power relations, are the main drivers for the active process of environmental, moral and spiritual 82 impoverishment; 83

Recognizing that peace, the promotion of the Culture of Peace, and respect for human rights are constitutive 84 elements for sustainable development and that the large expenditures being allocated to warfare and military 85 activities, including research, in particular for the use of nuclear weapons, represent a serious threat to the planet 86 affecting the lives of people everywhere, and pose unacceptable risks, particularly storage of nuclear waste and 87 uranium mining on the sacred lands of indigenous peoples, and potential nuclear reactor damage posed by 88 natural and human-made hazards; 89

Calling upon Member States of the UN and all stakeholders to take immediate action in addressing the alarming 90 crisis and famine in the Horn of Africa; 91

Acknowledging that sustainable development as a means to ensure human well-being requires that 92 interrelationships between population, resources, the environment and development should be fully understood, 93 recognized, appropriately managed and brought into harmonious, dynamic balance, States should promote 94 appropriate policies, including population-related policies including linguistic policies, to meet the needs of 95 current and future generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs; 96

Recognizing that the regime of internationally agreed development goals is the foundation for sustainable 97 development, and that the business-as-usual practices and policies should not be accepted; 98

Highlighting the need for youth empowerment through formal and non-formal education in sustainable 99 development, as well as through participation at all levels and at all stages of decision-making processes; 100

Acknowledging the important role of formal, non-formal, informal and vocational learning and life-long 101 education for sustainable development; 102

Acknowledging synergies and inter-relationships between gender equality and sustainable development, the 103 importance of girls? and women?s participation in decision-making in sustainable development processes and 104 governance at all levels, and their role as ―agents of change‖; and the need to ensure their full contribution to 105 building green economies and sustainable societies; 106

Committed to promoting respect for cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity and fostering solidarity and 107 reciprocity among peoples, including indigenous peoples and nations and an alliance and partnership among 108 civilizations; 109

Aware of the important role the media and modern means of communication play for raising awareness and 110 facilitating collaboration, promoting sustainable behavior and developing south-south news distribution 111 mechanisms; 112

Recognizing that people and nature are interdependent and that the ―global commons‖ ? the air and oceans, for 113 examples ? are resources on which we all rely, we encourage communities, governments and other stakeholders 114 to manage and share the responsibility of making decisions on safeguarding and increasing the fruits of nature 115 and society that form the foundation of a green economy; 116

Recognizing that biodiversity and linguistic diversity are inseparable, connected and interdependent, and alarmed 117 at the increasing loss of linguistic diversity causing loss of traditional knowledge, which is essential for 118 maintaining biodiversity; 119

Recognizing that the implementation of the sustainable development agenda requires, besides strong political 120 actions and political leadership, the everyday, voluntary actions of millions of people and civil society 121 organizations across the globe; 122

Recognizing and enhancing the impact of volunteering for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, and 123 for the development of sustainable livelihoods, keeping in mind the long history of volunteer engagement in 124 environmental issues, it will be important to acknowledge that the role of citizen engagement and volunteer 125 action will become even more significant in assuring an environmentally sustainable future and a green economy 126 in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, particularly as we approach Rio + 20; 127

Recognizing the role of volunteerism to achieve sustainable societies by fostering social inclusion and as a 128 means to involve and benefit all segments of society, including women, children, young people, older persons, 129 people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, minorities, migrants, and those excluded and vulnerable due to 130 social, linguistic or economic reasons; 131

Recognizing, that volunteerism, as a type of non-formal education, offers opportunities for young people to take 132 responsibility for their livelihoods, acquire skills and capacities and act as positive role models for other youth; 133

Recognizing that volunteerism, in taking centre stage for inspiring the global development dialogue, should lead 138 the way for the efforts of all stakeholders to develop a shared vision of partnership for the growth of the global 139 commons in areas such as education, both at the micro-level in families and at the national level, youth activism 140 through the arts and through online journalism, and through innovative, continuing methods of self-organization 141 and collective action, which should be documented and promoted by appropriate global information systems; 142

Highlighting the crucial contribution of volunteering in post-conflict contexts to construct sustainable societies 143 by rebuilding institutions, local capacity, and social cohesion through various forms of volunteering; 144

The NGOs here present in Bonn, Germany, on 5 September 2011, declare the following on the matters of a green 145 economy in the context of poverty eradication, sustainable lifestyles, education and life-long learning for 146 sustainable development, civic engagement in sustainable development governance and volunteerism: 147

RIO + 20 and Civic Engagement 148

We call on governments to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals set out below; 149

We encourage all stakeholders to become involved in Rio + 20 and to make their own commitments to 150 sustainable development; 151

We call on governments to: 152

come to Rio + 20 represented by Heads of State or Government, with concrete commitments to take 153 individual and collective actions towards sustainable development and address gaps and emerging issues, based 154 on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities; 155

generate an appendix to the outcome document containing country commitments to form the foundation 158 of a global registry of sustainability actions and major stakeholder commitments, which include robust 159 monitoring and reporting provisions; 160

We call for the preparation and implementation of green economy roadmaps that consider and address the 161 commonly agreed Rio Principles, for the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals in critical areas, and for the 162 implementation of governance reforms to foster the transition to a green economy in the context of sustainable 163 development and poverty eradication, by fostering civic engagement and volunteerism and for improving the 164 Institutional framework for sustainable development. 165

We call for replacement of the current inefficient, unsustainable and inequitable economic, monetary, financial 166 and commercial models with policies that advance rather than detract from sustainable development goals and 167 that build rather than deplete the stocks of natural, human, built and social capital on which human well-being 168 ultimately depends. We propose that where the current economy aids inequity, destruction and greed, it should 169 be replaced by an economy that cares for the human-earth community. 170

We call for the establishment of the proposed Financial Transaction Tax to help build social protection systems 171 in the most vulnerable countries, the Least Developed Countries (―LDCs‖), and contribute to sustainable climate 172 adaptation, strengthen civil society worldwide and support more sustainable and equitable economies. 173

We call upon the UN General Assembly to proclaim 21 December each year as International Low-Carbon 177 Lifestyle Day, to be a day of reflection to live more simply and sustainably by recognizing the food-energy-water 178 nexus, and that the Secretary-General invite UN Member States, intergovernmental bodies, agencies and 179 programmes of the UN system, international institutions, cities, civil society and interested individuals and 180 volunteers to mark the day with appropriate low-carbon events worldwide. 181

We hereby call upon governments to work in partnership with civil society, the private sector and international 182 institutions to fulfill the commitments set forth in this declaration before and at Rio + 20. 183

GREEN ECONOMY IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 184 AND POVERTY ERADICATION 185

We are concerned that the current economic model, which promotes unsustainable consumption and production 186 patterns, facilitates a grossly inequitable trading system, fails to eradicate poverty, assists exploitation of natural 187 resources to the verge of extinction and total depletion, and has induced multiple crises on Earth, needs to be 188 replaced by sustainable economies in community, local, national, regional and international spheres. 189

We are concerned that the prevailing economic development model built on policies such as privatization, 190 export-led development, structural adjustment, deregulation, substitution of technology for nature, and driven by 191 the goal of GDP growth suffers from a series of market and institutional failures that render it inefficient, 192 unsustainable, inequitable, and an incorrect vehicle for advancing sustainable development goals. 193

We acknowledge the need to establish a new way to measure the progress towards a sustainable development 194 with gender-specific and other indicators, including, but not limited to, civic engagement, integrating them with 195 those of sustainable development, rather than only relying solely on a country?s GDP. 196

We call on governments and other stakeholders to make systematic use of population data and projections to 197 anticipate and plan for population dynamics and address associated challenges in a pro-active manner. 198 Recognizing human rights and freedoms, governments should enlarge individual choices and opportunities by 199

ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and family planning, empowerment of women, and 200 investment in education, particularly of disadvantaged children and youth, and girls and young women. 201

We call on the full and effective implementation of Agenda 21, the MDGs, the Beijing Platform for Action, and 202 the ICPD to ensure young peoples? rights to education, employment and health, emphasizing sexual and 203 reproductive health, including access to contraceptives, and universal access to HIV prevention and treatment, 204 through the understanding of linkages between social, environmental and population dimensions. 205

We call on governments to start a debate that recognizes the choices we have to make about human population as 206 we consider the limits of the carrying capacity of the planet and the need to enable fair and equitable use of 207 available resources and also leave space for wildlife and wilderness. 208

We are aware that the UNDP Human Development Index piloted for the first time social indicators such as 209 education, gender equality and life expectancy to measure development, and that when governments implement 210 the Universal Social Protection Floor Initiative there will be a significant improvement of human well-being. 211

We recognize further that the market and institutional failures take the form of prices that do not reflect their true 212 environmental and social costs, underinvestment in natural, human, built and social capital, harmful and perverse 213 subsidies, restricted access to information about production technologies and their impacts, lack of democratic 214 economic governance, increasing unemployment and inadequate indicators of progress. 215

We are convinced that green economies in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication 216 should be economic systems that foster citizen participation; require social justice and equity and gender 217 equality; protection of ecosystems; creation of economic sufficiency, and that aims for the core idea that green 218 economies enhance sustainable development and prosperity of all nations; ensure the wellbeing of all people; 219 respect the rights, cultures, languages and wisdom of indigenous peoples and local communities; safeguard 220 animal welfare and conserve biodiversity for future generations, while stressing that green economy does not 221 replace sustainable development. 222

We acknowledge that a just transition to green economies within sustainable societies is in the context of 223 sustainable development, elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty, climate justice, and equitable 224 investment in people?s education, health, and decent work and right livelihoods. 225

We acknowledge also that green economies within sustainable societies should also ensure gender equality, 226 democracy, improve human well-being, reduce environmental risks, and ensure that jobs and social benefits are 227 distributed equitably among all peoples; 228

Considering that sustainable economies should be based on far-sighted policy-making, we need pathways to the 229 green economies, low carbon development and new monetary policies with clear and binding targets and 230 timetables. 231

For these reasons we call upon governments to: 232

ensure extraction of materials only in a sustainable way and on a sufficiency basis, and that these 233 resources are utilized efficiently; 234

ensure the reuse of waste as raw material for new products to maximize the lifecycle and take action 235 through providing the right incentives for research and development; 236

facilitate the transition to an ecologically-based, resilient, fair, fully inclusive and humane agriculture, 240 and the establishment of a participatory mechanism to oversee the transition. The world?s millions of 241 smallholder farmers, especially women, need to be politically empowered and given access to 242 appropriate resources, and fair markets; 243

implement a just transition to sustainable economies as fast as possible through an unprecedented level 244 of cooperation and policy coherence at the local, state, national and international levels, for South-South 245 and triangular cooperation, by the sharing of green technologies and know-how, by restructuring 246 regulatory, taxation, and expenditure policies, and by establishing democratic oversight of economic 247 policy decision making; 248

create green jobs and to ―green‖ existing jobs with a special focus on youth, women and disadvantaged 249 groups; 250

replace or supplement GDP and other traditional economic metrics with broader indicators; 251

strengthen local economies and avoid the destruction of forests and biodiversity through the support to 254 independent certification systems, based on robust principles, applied through transparent and balanced 255 participatory processes, ensuring the rights and interests of indigenous peoples and local communities, 256 and with independent, on-the- ground, monitoring, reporting and verification. Governments and the 257 private sector should pledge concrete and systematic support and promotion of such multi-stakeholder 258 managed forest certification systems, in all parts of the world, with particular emphasis on the tropical 259 rainforests; 260

regulate the economy to put an end to speculation on food and global commons; 263

promote local alternative economies, such as time banks, complementary monetary systems, and to 264 rethink the monetary system to be based on carbon standard. 265

Institutional framework for sustainable development 266

We call for the establishment of a global sustainable development coordinating mechanism and parallel 267 institutions at the national level, empowered to pursue system-wide policy coherence for the Bretton Woods and 268 UN institutions to advance sustainable development principles, pathways, and policies in a coordinated manner. 269 Such a mechanism must involve interactive multi-stakeholder forums and regular meetings of Heads of State and 270 Government to assess developments and provide leadership in economic, social and ecological issues, to lead 271 and oversee the global sustainable production and consumption governance process, and to help secure 272 consistency and coherence in the policy goals of all the major international organizations. 273

We call for the establishment or reform of Subcommittees on Sustainable Consumption and Production to be 274 operated within National Councils for Sustainable Development, with a mandate to advise all national agencies 275 working on sustainable consumption and production and national representatives on the Intergovernmental 276 Sustainable Consumption and Production Mechanisms. Sufficiently resourced National Councils on Sustainable 277 Development should be in place to drive the transition to green economies and develop a national sustainable 278 green economy roadmap for each Member State of the UN by 2017. 279

We call for the strengthening of national and international environmental laws, the establishment of an 280 International Environmental Court and the strengthening of domestic judiciaries to deal with environmental 281 disputes. 282

We call for the establishment of Ombudspersons for Future Generations at global, national and local levels, who 283 will advocate for sustainable development as envisaged and defined by the Brundtland Commission: ―to enhance 284 the well-being and prospects of present and future generations to meet their needs‖, serve as an auditor at the 285 heart of governments and deal with citizens complaints. 286

We call for the establishment of an intergovernmental negotiating committee to create a framework convention 287 on corporate environmental and social responsibility (―CSR‖) for the accountability of corporate investments for 288 all companies listed on stock exchanges worldwide and take into account the ISO 26000 standard on corporate 289 accountability. 290

We move for the adoption of an intergovernmental mechanism or instrument to assess the environmental, health 291 and socio-economic impacts of new and emerging technologies, in line with the precautionary principle. We call 292 for the outright ban on technologies that put the planet at grave risk. 293

We call for the establishment of an intergovernmental negotiating committee to create a framework convention 294 on international sustainability impact assessment, requiring the assessment of the sustainability implications for 295 certain projects, plans, programs, policies and legislative instruments. 296

We call on the Rio + 20 conference to launch negotiations for the establishment of an international convention 297 on Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration that deals with access to information, public participation and 298 environmental justice. 299

We further call on the Rio + 20 conference to encourage the development of regional conventions on Principle 300 10, to invite interested States to accede to the Aarhus Convention and to mandate UNEP to develop a robust 301 program to implement the 2010 Bali Guidelines on Principle 10. 302

We call for strengthening existing UNEP bodies and upgrading UNEP to the status of a high-level body in the 303 UN system. 304

We call for the widespread ratification and effective implementation of all multilateral environmental 305 agreements. 306

We call on national governments to ratify and effectively implement the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention, the 307 only global environmental treaty that has not yet entered into force. 308

We call on the UN to mainstream sustainable development into the ―Delivering As One‖ process. 309

We call upon governments to ensure that Free Prior Informed Consent (―FPIC‖) is implemented with regard to 310 development decisions, and other decisions such as REDD+, that impact indigenous peoples, indigenous groups 311 and tribal and local communities. 312

We call on corporations to engage youth to make sustainable development initiatives a key part of their work, 313 taking local communities into consideration. 314

We call upon all stakeholders for openness to new ways to volunteer by connecting and engaging people through 315 internet and other new technologies. 316

We recommend that collaborative strategies between communities and the private sector through CSR 317 programmes, such as employee volunteering, enhance existing volunteer opportunities to contribute to 318 sustainable peace and development worldwide. 319

We recommend the incorporation of volunteerism, citizen engagement and volunteers in all global, national and 320 local plans and priorities for peace, sustainable development and human well-being to commit to the creation of 321 an enabling environment in which citizen engagement and voluntary action can flourish. 322

We recommend promotion of youth volunteering strategies that engage young people as agents for sustainable 323 development and peace. 324

We recommend the documentation and exchange of best practices on the role of volunteers, particularly at the 325 community level, in peace, sustainable development and human well-being efforts, including at each stage of 326 disaster management ? prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery; 327

We recommend the creation of an academy of Olympics Volunteers to be facilitated by the past directors of 328 Olympic Volunteer programmes in Host Cities of the Olympic Games, with the close cooperation of interested 329 NGOs and members of the International Olympic Committee family, and that volunteerism be officially 330 recognized as the fourth pillar of the Olympic Movement, along with sports, culture and the environment; 331

We call upon: 332

Governments to recognize the power, economic and social value of volunteerism to achieve national 333 development goals and well-being, and to provide a supportive environment for sustaining volunteerism 334 with resources and support for infrastructure, as well as recognition of the values of civic participation; 335

The Private Sector to actively engage in employee volunteering and partnerships in enhancing capacities 336 of volunteers involving organizations for achieving sustainable peace and development; 337

The Media to communicate to the public the value of volunteerism and join as a stakeholder in 338 promoting a supportive environment for community engagement and volunteerism; 339

Educational Institutions and Academia to integrate volunteerism and an understanding of civil society 342 into curricula and similar structures to promote a deeper and more universal understanding of civic 343 service and volunteering; 344

The Research Community to carry out more research and studies on, but not limited to, the value and 345 impact of volunteerism on development and the role of volunteering in crisis prevention and response, 346 and to develop new indicators of progress that incorporate citizen engagement, voluntary action and 347 human well-being; 348

Faith Traditions to affirm volunteering for peace and development as an appropriate response to the 349 spiritual call to service and human well-being; 350

Volunteerism Involving Organizations to ensure the effectiveness and accountability of volunteerism 351 through sound governance, development of capacity to manage volunteers, and for monitoring and 352 evaluation of impact; 353

All Stakeholders to call for a World Volunteer Coalition to provide a platform for promotion, knowledge 354 sharing, capacity development, and collective actions on volunteerism; 355

Governments, the United Nations system and other stakeholders to renew efforts to implementing 356 General Assembly Resolution A/RES/56/38 and subsequent resolutions of the United Nations General 357 Assembly on measures to support volunteerism and look forward to further actions by the UNGA to 358

commemorate IYV+10 and to continue to call for global recognition, support, and advocacy for 359 volunteerism for sustainable peace and development; 360

We call on governments and stakeholders to adopt a holistic and integrated approach to sustainable development 361 and human well-being through a gender sensitive community-centered approach that utilizes the significant role, 362 contributions and value of volunteers to address sustainable development, livelihoods, fair trade, food insecurity, 363 energy, forestry, water, health, HIV/AIDS, disasters and other issues; 364

We call on the actors of the ―Arab Spring‖ to establish their own NGOs quickly, and to apply for association 365 with the UN Department of Public Information, so as to communicate with the UN, and to disseminate 366 information about the UN to their constituents and other NGOs, thus compensating as soon as possible for 367 wasted years under dictatorships with denial of freedom of expression; 368

We call on NGOs in the Middle East and North Africa, and the Arab region, to ask their governments to invite 369 the UN Department of Public Information to host the 65th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference; 370

We further call on the NGO/DPI Executive Committee to adopt the following theme for any conference 371 dedicated to, or hosted in, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Arab region: ―Diversity: The Only Path to 372 Sustainable Peace and Development‖; 373

We call on governments to acknowledge the importance of civil society organizations for the promotion of 374 volunteerism and to recognize that strengthening the dialogue and interaction between civil society and the 375 United Nations contributes to the expansion of volunteerism; 376

We note with appreciation the contributions of the UN Volunteers over the last 10 years and the marking the 377 10th Anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers. 378

We note with appreciation the efforts of all UN DPI/NGO Conference participants to increase awareness of 379 volunteerism through global outreach, information sharing and education. 380

SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES: 381

We are convinced that our planet and the human-earth community will only survive, thrive and prosper by a shift 382 to an economy that is sustainable and equitable, and focused on the elimination of the extremes of wealth and 383 poverty through the actions of responsive citizens and volunteerism. 384

We note that unsustainable consumption and production patterns have been major contributors to climate change 385 and poverty, and that sustainable development can only be ensured if humanity, directed and led by government 386 policies, embraces humane, sustainable, low-carbon lifestyles and adopts sustainable livelihoods. 387

We note that sustainable lifestyles and livelihoods must be built on sustainable consumption and production in 388 our globalizing world and equity among generations, genders, nations, cultures and languages. 389

We acknowledge that sustainable consumption, in particular, needs to consider the minimization of the 390 environmental impact of purchasing decisions and the maximization of the social impact of our purchases. 391

We reaffirm consequently, that individuals, families and communities are key actors in achieving sustainable 392 consumption and production and should be empowered and enabled through education in everyday life 393 competencies to assume responsibility for achieving sustainable lifestyles all around the world. 394

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOVERNANCE: 395

We note that streamlining management of multilateral environment agreements, drawing on the foundations of 396 community participation and governance structures and education for sustainable development, can provide 397 better understanding to resolve complex sustainability issues. 398

We denounce the growing scarcity of resources to civil society organizations, oppressive action against social 399 movements and the increasing criminalization of environmental and indigenous movements in many countries by 400 governments and large multi-national corporations. 401

We further reaffirm that civic participation, including volunteering, has been a valuable partner in a broad 402 spectrum of peace and sustainable development activities, with the overriding goal of poverty eradication and the 403 betterment of the human condition, among a number of other causes; 404

We also recognize the contributions of civil society, NGO movements, trade unions, social entrepreneurs, and 405 volunteer alliances and associations, ready to share responsibility with local and national governments in their 406 communities. 407

We note the threats to freedom of expression, association and assembly. It is vital that the principles enshrined in 408 the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders are respected in law and practice. 409

We reaffirm that genuine involvement of youth, women, and wider civil society in decision-making processes 410 and partnerships, as stressed in Agenda 21, Section 3, is critical to the success of sustainable development 411 initiatives. 412

OTHER ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED AT RIO + 20 413

EDUCATION AND LEARNING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: 414

We acknowledge the necessity to reaffirm the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development; 415

We are convinced that the shift to a sustainable society is deeply dependent on the educational system; 416

We affirm that education should address the material, social and spiritual dimensions of human development, 417 and in its fullest sense, education must provide the space for value-based sustainable learning; 418

We call for the respect and inclusion of ethnic languages in the educational system, as these languages comprise 419 the complexity of their respective environments, and to take into consideration the potential of a neutral 420 international language that combines ease of learning and clarity with neutrality, and therefore can be seen as 421 inherently sustainable; 422

We call upon educational institutions to increase their participation in the transformation process for a 423 sustainable society, in order to enhance capacity building of communities in which these institutions are located, 424 to create an environment in which satisfying and sustained education can take place, developing national respect 425 for education in natural, cultural and world heritage, thereby mainstreaming education for sustainable 426 development in lifelong learning; 427

We recognize that music as a natural resource, and as a global commons, should be used in education to connect 428 generations and global communities, to give voice to all and to participate in issues of global concern in 429 providing solutions to global challenges; 430

We are aware that successful education and learning in all its forms are dependent on the full support of 431 governments at all levels, the private sector, policy makers and the civil society; 432

We suggest the construction of laboratory schools in the context of post-conflict development that will teach 433 skills through a variety of tools, including sports, to develop holistically minded citizens. 434

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 435

To achieve the goals of Rio + 20 in an ambitious, time-bound and accountable manner, we call upon 436 governments in accordance with human rights, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and 437 respective capabilities to adopt the following draft Sustainable Development Goals together with the sub-goals, 438 reasons and clarifications relating to each goal: 439

The goals below are aspirational. While some of these are based on commitments already made by governments 440 and other stakeholders, others are proposed on the basis of advanced thinking among civil society organizations. 441

SDG ? SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION: By 2020, consistent with the Biodiversity 442 Strategic Plan adopted at the 10th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological 443 Diversity (―CBD COP10‖), the human ecological footprint is reduced so that it remains within the Earth?s 444 biological carrying capacity. In accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, we 445 call on nations and populations engaged in wasteful overconsumption to reduce their impacts and help increase 446 the consumption of vital goods and services for impoverished nations and peoples, so they also can enjoy 447 reasonably high standards of living that provide equitable access to health care, decent work opportunities and 448 education. 449

By 2020, governments should promote production processes that reflect the best available technologies for eco-450 efficiency, recycling, remanufacturing, reuse of waste materials, product durability and longevity. Wasteful 451 practices such as planned obsolescence are identified and eliminated. Public procurement standards and 452 incentives reward leading corporations that share and disseminate best green practices worldwide. By 2020, the 453 majority of the world?s goods and services are procured by governments from sources certified by objective third 454 parties as sustainably produced. 455

This goal is tied to the preparation and implementation of sustainability or green economy roadmaps, that 456 consider and address commonly agreed sustainability principles, adopt sustainable development goals in critical 457 areas, and implement governance reforms to foster the transition to a green economy and to improve the 458 Institutional framework for sustainable development. 459

Further, establish a set of Millennium Consumption Goals for the period 2012-2020 towards creating an 460 intergenerational and internationally shared right to equitable consumption opportunities and ensuring quality of 461 life and wellbeing of all people by 2020, while eradicating all kinds and levels of poverty, respecting animal 462 welfare and embedding sufficiency based sustainable economies. 463

SDG ? SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS, YOUTH & EDUCATION: By 2015, nations commit to the principle 464 of sustainable livelihoods as a right for all people and implement monetary, fiscal and language policies to 465 encourage full and decent work. By 2020, biodiversity and ecosystem service considerations are mainstreamed 466 within existing rural development platforms and initiatives to conserve sustainable livelihoods in indigenous and 467 local communities that depend on natural capital for survival. 468

By 2015, governments incorporate within development frameworks as a priority, investments in the education, 469 health and employment of young people, who constitute a large proportion of the population of developing 470 countries and face disproportionate levels of poverty, unemployment, gender discrimination and ill health. 471 Governments should support comprehensive policies, youth participation and multisectoral programmes that 472 empower present and future generations to fully and freely exercise their human rights, fulfill their aspirations 473 and be productive citizens. 474

By 2030, national governments reorient all national aims and objectives towards achieving sustainable societies 475

and will mainstream sustainable development into all national educational policies and curricula. 476

By 2020, consistent with the Biodiversity Strategic Plan adopted at CBD COP10, governments ensure that 477 people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the step they can take to conserve and use it sustainably. 478

SDG -CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY: By 2050, governments should have reached clear pathways towards 479 climate sustainability that regulates the global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees C. Emissions of greenhouse 480 gases should be reduced to 25% of 1990 levels by 2020, 40% by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 80% by 2050. Carbon 481 taxes and tariffs should be in place to provide incentives for low-carbon development and manufacturing, finance 482 GHG emissions reduction projects, REDD+ and other offset mechanisms, and green infrastructure solutions to 483 help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change. 484

Developed countries, as the main cause of climate change, in assuming their historical responsibility, must 485 recognize and honor their climate debt in all of its dimensions as the basis for a just, effective, and scientific 486 solution to climate change. The above goal shall include the equitable sharing of remaining atmospheric space, 487 considering past use and consumption and mid and long-term emission reduction targets that are in line with 488 what the science requires. 489

SDG ? CLEAN ENERGY: By 2030, at least 50% of the world?s energy supply comes from renewable sources. 490 By 2020 energy demand is reduced through efficiency and conservation by at least 20%. By 2030 energy poverty 491 is eliminated by providing universal access to modern energy services from renewable sources. 492

SDG - BIODIVERSITY: Governments are urged to honor their commitments to implementing the Strategic Plan 493 for Biodiversity, in particular those related to the Green Economy such as Target 2: ―By 2020, at the latest, 494 biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies 495 and planning processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting 496 systems‖; and Target 3: ―By 2020, at the latest, incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity are 497 eliminated, phased out or reformed in order to minimize or avoid negative impacts.‖ We urge governments to 498 support investments in natural infrastructure and ecological restoration and to facilitate the development of 499 markets that value the regulatory services provided by ecosystems. 500

SDG ?WATER: By 2030, governments will achieve universal availability of an acceptable quantity and quality 501 of water for health, livelihoods, ecosystems and production, adequate sanitation, coupled with an acceptable 502 level of water-related risks to people, environments and economies. 503

This goal is over and above the achievement of the MDGs and other internationally agreed development goals. 504 The right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation shall be recognized as a human right and it shall be the 505 responsibility of all states to respect such right. As an interim goal, by 2015 the proportion of people unable to 506 reach or afford safe drinking water, and without access to basic sanitation, shall be halved as agreed in the JPOI. 507

By 2020, local, municipal and national governments and all stakeholders commit to achieve the following 508 intermediate targets: 509

20% increase in total food supply-chain efficiency ? reducing losses and waste from field to fork; 510

20% increase in water efficiency in agriculture ? more nutrition and crop per drop; 511

20% increase in water use efficiency in energy production ? more kWh per drop; 512

Biodiversity, governments establish at least 10% coastal and marine areas.By 2030, oceanic dead zones will be 516 recovered by reducing nitrogen runoff from land by 50% or more. By 2020, Marine Protected Areas will be 517 established in at least 25% of each Exclusive Economic Zones (―EEZ‖) and the high seas in representative 518 networks capable of restoring minimum viable populations of all at-risk stocks, protecting marine biological 519 diversity, and maximizing benefits to commercial and subsistence fishers in surrounding waters. By 2015, the 520 use of bottom trawling, dynamite fishing, electro-fishing, poisons and other unsustainable practices will be 521 eliminated. By 2030, reverse the decline of fish stocks and create sustainable and diverse and abundant fish 522 stocks, supported by healthy habitat to provide for the needs of all users, and by 2015, ban the practice of shark 523 finning. 524

We also make the following policy recommendations: (a) reduce plastic pollution in the oceans, including by 525 banning or taxing single-use plastics, supporting the use of recycled plastics in new products, and holding 526 manufacturers responsible for plastics through their entire life cycle; (b) establish an international monitoring 527 network for ocean acidification to enable the identification of vulnerable regions and industries and to provide an 528 early warning system for industries already experiencing harm; (c) designate the high seas of the Central Arctic 529 Ocean as a zone for international scientific cooperation, where extractive and polluting activities are suspended 530 until we have a better understanding of the area and the potential effects of such activities; and (d) schedule, as a 531 matter of urgency, an intergovernmental conference to address the multiplying threats to ocean areas beyond the 532 jurisdiction of individual nations. 533

SDG ? HEALTHY FORESTS: By 2020, all remaining frontier forests are protected from conversion and 534 degradation, consistent with the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity adopted at COP10, with a well-resourced and 535 equably governed REDD+ mechanism in place, which respects the rights and knowledge of indigenous peoples 536 and local communities and other environmental and governance safeguards, to reward developing countries for 537 protection and sustainable management of their forests, not only for carbon capture and storage but for their 538 wider ecological services. A policy of no net loss of forestland, globally and nationally, is also achieved by 2020. 539 At that time, all new forest areas cleared will be offset by ecologically sound restoration of forests in nearby 540 areas. Restoration of over 150 million hectares of cleared or degraded forest landscapes is achieved by 2020, 541 with the creation of millions of new jobs and enhanced livelihoods, improved security and adaptation to climate 542 change. 543

Reduce deforestation emissions by key corporations and their supply chains committing to avoid the purchase of 544 products that cause deforestation, such as soy or cattle from deforested lands in the Brazilian Amazon, palm oil 545 from deforested agricultural land in Indonesia, or illegal wood and wood products throughout the world. 546

Measures proposed under the Clean Development Mechanism (―CDM‖) must be carefully examined by the 549 communities depending on forests for their subsistence, as we see that they favor already important land-550 grabbing and the destruction of their livelihoods. 551

At Rio+20, we call on governments to pledge concrete and systematic support and promotion of multi 552 stakeholder managed forest certification systems, in all parts of the world, with particular emphasis on tropical 553 rainforests. 554

SDG - SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: By 2030, global agricultural production is transformed from 555 industrial to sustainable. Chemical inputs, herbicides, and pesticides are largely replaced with organic and 556 biological alternatives. Interspersed natural areas are protected and restored as sources of pollination, pest control 557 and soil fertility. Food for export is secondary to food for local consumption. Cultivated crop strains are 558 diversified, as are production techniques and the mix of agricultural producers. Best management practices 559 reduce erosion by 90% and nitrogen runoff by 50% or more. Local ecological knowledge of indigenous peoples, 560

traditional, and local communities is utilized to identify resilient crops and cultivation practices that provide 561 maximum protection against climate change. 562

This goal should also include sustainable and humane food systems that provide healthy food to meet current 563 food needs while maintaining healthy ecosystems, farmer resilience, and ensure good animal health and welfare 564 that can also provide food for generations to come with minimal negative impact to the environment, through 565 agro-ecological farming systems. We consider the right to keep their own seeds as an important issue of farming. 566

A sustainable and humane food system should promote food sovereignty of communities, empower small-scale 567 food producers in food and agricultural governance, and also encourage local production and distribution 568 infrastructures with equal opportunities for men and women farmers, and the important role of youth in this area, 569 and makes nutritious food available, accessible, and affordable to all, while at the same time providing 570 sustainable livelihoods to producers through the payment of fair prices for their products. Sustainable food 571 systems must be based on food sovereignty and the right for small-scale peasants, women?s groups and local 572 communities to plant and exchange their seeds and share their knowledge. 573

Recognize and support by all means possible, the important role and special needs of women as the primary 577 producers and purchasers of food, along with the implementation of women?s property and inheritance rights. 578

SDG - GREEN CITIES: By 2030, cities have developed and are implementing action plans to address transport, 579 public health and environmental needs in a harmonious and integrated way. By 2030, from the local to national, 580 government policies foster compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented, urban development that minimizes energy 581 use and maximizes residential health and that reflects the concept of a society for all ages. All new buildings 582 meet green building standards by 2030. By 2030, city transport needs are or remain predominantly met by mass 583 transport, walking and bicycling. Quality of life is also improved for residents by 2030, providing access to green 584 buildings with urban rooftop gardens, clean water, clean energy, waste management systems and sustainable 585 transport. By 2030, urban areas with significant storm water pollution issues reduce impervious surface area by 586 30% below 2012 levels. 587

SDG - SUBSIDIES AND INVESTMENT: By 2020 at the latest, consistent with the Biodiversity Strategic Plan 588 adopted at CBD COP10, harmful incentives, including subsidies, for fossil fuel production, unsustainable 589 agricultural, fisheries and forest practices, and those harmful to biodiversity, are eliminated, phased out or 590 redirected to promote renewable energy, sustainable practices and the conservation and sustainable use of 591 biodiversity. By 2015, governments commit to a minimum investment of 2% of GDP per year to foster the 592 transition to a green economy, taking into account national socio-economic conditions. 593

SDG - NEW INDICATORS OF PROGRESS: By 2020, nations supplement or replace GDP with a new measure 594 of sustainable economic welfare based on best available information at that time. Economic performance and the 595 forecasted effects of policy changes will be measured by this new metric. We encourage a process of continuous 596 improvement and refinement of the new measure over time and an international process to set standards and 597 make available common methods and data sources. We also encourage the adoption of several other headline 598 indicators of environmental, economic, social, cultural and linguistic sustainability to provide a measure of 599 progress towards the green economy transition, such as civic participation, improved well-being and 600 achievement of sustainable development goals. 601

SDG - ACCESS TO INFORMATION: By 2022, governments will enact and implement Freedom of Information 602 laws giving people the right to obtain accurate and truthful information held by their government, especially on 603 the environment. Governments will actively make available to all stakeholders useful, accurate and truthful well-604

publicized data and information in appropriate formats and languages, including on the internet. These laws 605 should include whistleblower protection and should extend to information disclosure by corporations. 606

SDG - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: By 2022, governments need to ensure that voluntarism and citizen 607 engagement are incorporated in all global, national and local action plans for implementation of sustainable 608 development and human well-being, to commit to the creation of an enabling environment for citizen 609 engagement and voluntary action, and will include mandatory public participation in (a) major development 610 project approvals and environmental impact assessment procedures, (b) drafting of national level sustainable 611 development policies, laws and regulations and (c) administrative decisions such as pollution permitting. 612

SDG - ACCESS TO REDRESS AND REMEDY: By 2022, governments will adopt and implement laws 613 ensuring effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings concerning sustainable development, 614 including redress and remedy. In particular, they will ensure that the costs of such proceedings are reasonable 615 and affordable to affected people and that access to such proceedings is available through expansion of legal 616 standing and other means to interested people and organizations. 617

SDG - ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOR THE POOR AND MARGINALIZED: By 2022, governments will 618 adopt laws that obligate government agencies to take appropriate measures to provide information and engage 619 affected people living in poverty, women and other disadvantaged groups when making sustainable development 620 decisions. 621

SDG ? BASIC HEALTH: By 2015, to support attainment of the health MDGs, and to contribute to health, well-622 being and sustainable development, ensure universal access to health care and services, wherever feasible, free at 623 the point of use for women and children, and including sexual and reproductive health, and thus strengthen the 624 resilience of people and communities to the consequences of climate change and environmental degradation. 625

We call on governments to foster sustainable health systems as an indispensable condition for sustainable 626 development of societies through provision of essential health services, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and 627 production of healthy cross-sectoral public policies. 628

We endorse the finalization of a global mercury treaty by February 2013 that will aggressively limit the global 629 use and trade in mercury and reduce global mercury emissions; 630

We recommend a ban on the export of mercury and the mining of mercury for export and secure the agreement 631 by chlor-alkali and mining companies not to place mercury into commerce and take responsibility for ensuring 632 its safe management. 633

We recommend the creation new partnerships around the responsible sourcing of raw materials for production 634 and the regulation of specific harmful chemicals. 635

We call for the further strengthening the World Health Organization in this process. 636

We call on governments to address social determinants of health as a means of reducing global health inequities 637 through acknowledging that all policies affect health. Health equity is paramount towards sustainable societies. 638

We call on governments to make direct and relevant interventions to improve young peoples' health ensuring 639 their role as agents of change for a sustainable society, and to ensure the development of financing mechanisms 640 for health systems. 641

We welcome the recognition of the work of the United Nations Volunteer program as the focal point for the 642 follow-up to the International Year of Volunteers, and request it to continue to raise awareness of the 643 contribution of volunteerism to sustainable development, to act as a convener on the subject for the various 644

interested stakeholders, to make available networking and reference resources and to provide technical 645 cooperation to developing countries, at their request. 646

We call upon the United Nations, through its regular budgetary process and mechanisms, to enable the UN 647 Department of Communications and Public Information (―DPI‖) to host this annual Conference and to provide 648 DPI with consistent and predictable financial and human resources that are needed to do so. 649

We thank the people and Government of Germany and the city and Mayor of Bonn for their warm welcome and 650 for hosting the 64th annual Conference of the UN Department of Public Information for Non-Governmental 651 Organizations. 652

We ask that all parties involved with UN conferences on increase their efforts towards reducing the ecological 653 footprint of these events and hereby setting a positive example. 654